Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows FanStore News Showtimes

Leslie Nielsen

Highest Rated: 97% Airplane! (1980)

Lowest Rated: 0% Repossessed (1990)

Birthday: Feb 11, 1926

Birthplace: Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada

Leslie Nielsen disproved the adage that American lives have no second acts. After decades as a leading man in genre motion pictures like "Forbidden Planet" (1956) and "The Plainsman" (1966), Nielsen inserted his serious, authoritative persona into the parody-based comedies of the Zucker brothers and enjoyed a highly successful second career arc in films like "Airplane" (1980) and especially the "Naked Gun" series (1988, 1991, 1994), as well as "Scary Movie 3" (2003) and "Scary Movie 4" (2006). The key to the silver-haired leading man's timeless success was his deadpan delivery and seeming obliviousness to situations rife with sight gags and slapstick comedy. There was simply no one like him and people of all ages responded for over two decades to his brilliantly empty-headed persona.

Show Less Show More

Highest rated movies

97% 89% Airplane! Watchlist
94% 85% Forbidden Planet
Watchlist
86% 84% The Naked Gun Watchlist 80% 76% The Poseidon Adventure Watchlist
65% 69% Creepshow
Watchlist
58% 65% The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear Watchlist 58% 53% Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Watchlist
57% 67% Men With Brooms
Watchlist
45% 34% Prom Night Watchlist
42% 71% Nuts
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
14% 18% Stan Helsing Kay (Character) - 2009
No Score Yet 25% Slap Shot 3: The Junior League Mayor of Charlestown (Character) - 2008
13% 48% An American Carol Grandpa/Osama bin Nielsen (Character) $7.0M 2008
16% 32% Superhero Movie Uncle Albert (Character) $25.9M 2008
34% 51% Scary Movie 4 President Harris (Character) $90.7M 2006
35% 54% Scary Movie 3 The President of the United States (Character) $110.0M 2003
57% 67% Men With Brooms Gordon Cutter (Character) $4.2M 2002
No Score Yet 16% Camouflage Jack Potter (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 35% Kevin of the North Thornton (Character) - 2001
No Score Yet 32% Santa Who? Santa Claus (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 17% 2001: A Space Travesty Richard "Dick" Dix (Character) - 2000
18% 56% Wrongfully Accused Ryan Harrison (Character) $9.6M 1998
No Score Yet 33% Harvey Dr. Chumley (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 42% Safety Patrol Mr. Penn (Character) - 1998
9% 24% Mr. Magoo Mr. Quincy Magoo (Character) $21.4M 1997
No Score Yet 24% Family Plan Harry Haber (Character) - 1997
7% 31% Spy Hard Dick Steele (Character) $27.0M 1996
11% 49% Dracula: Dead and Loving It Count Dracula (Character) $9.9M 1995
No Score Yet 42% Rent-a-Kid Harry Haber (Character) - 1995
58% 53% Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult Lt. Frank Drebin (Character) $48.1M 1994
23% 68% Surf Ninjas Colonel Chi (Character) $4.9M 1993
No Score Yet 100% Unknown Marx Brothers Unknown (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 27% Digger Arthur Evrensel (Character) - 1993
58% 65% The Naked Gun 2 1/2: The Smell of Fear Det. Lt. Frank Drebin (Character) $84.3M 1991
7% 59% All I Want for Christmas Santa (Character) $13.9M 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Chance of a Lifetime Lloyd Dixon (Character) - 1991
0% 63% Repossessed Father Jebedaiah Mayii (Character) $1.3M 1990
No Score Yet 6% Dangerous Curves Greg Krevske (Character) - 1988
86% 84% The Naked Gun Lt. Frank Drebin (Character) $77.9M 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet Nightstick Thad Evans (Character) - 1987
42% 71% Nuts Allen Green (Character) $29.5M 1987
No Score Yet 0% Home Is Where the Hart Is Sheriff Nashville Schwartz (Character) $8.2K 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fatal Confession: A Father Dowling Mystery Senator Erdain (Character) - 1987
17% 35% Soul Man Mr. Dunbar (Character) $27.3M 1986
No Score Yet 0% The Patriot Admiral Frazer (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Striker's Mountain Jim McKay (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Blade in Hong Kong Harry Ingersoll (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Reckless Disregard Bob Franklin (Character) - 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cave-In! Joe Johnson (Character) - 1983
27% 39% Wrong Is Right Mallory (Character) - 1982
65% 69% Creepshow Richard Vickers ("Something To Tide You Over") (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 40% Foxfire Light Reece Morgan (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 24% The Creature Wasn't Nice Capt. Jamieson (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 19% Naked Space Unknown (Character) - 1981
No Score Yet 64% Spaceship Capt. Jamieson (Character) - 1981
45% 34% Prom Night Mr. Hammond (Character) - 1980
97% 89% Airplane! Doctor Rumack (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet OHMS Governor (Character) - 1980
No Score Yet 25% City on Fire Mayor William Dudley (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet IFR Counselor Hollis Barnes (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Institute for Revenge Counselor Hollis Barnes (Character) - 1979
No Score Yet No Score Yet Little Mo Nelson Fisher (Character) - 1978
No Score Yet 25% The Amsterdam Kill Riley Knight (Character) - 1978
14% 12% Viva Knievel! Stanley Millard (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Sixth and Main John Doe (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Something Is Out There Paul Jenson (Character) - 1977
40% 30% Day of the Animals Paul Jenson (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet 10% Project: Kill John Trevor (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Grand Jury John Williams (Character) - 1977
No Score Yet No Score Yet Brink's: The Great Robbery Agent Norman Houston (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Assassins of Revenge John Trevor (Character) - 1976
No Score Yet No Score Yet Can Ellen Be Saved? Arnold Lindsey (Character) - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Guadalcanal Odyssey Narrator - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet King of the Underwater World Narrator - 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet And Millions Will Die Jack Gallagher (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Snatched Bill Sutter (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Letters Derek Childs (Character) - 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Return of Charlie Chan Alexander Hadrachi (Character) - 1973
80% 76% The Poseidon Adventure Captain Harrison (Character) - 1972
No Score Yet 43% They Call It Murder Frank Antrim (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Resurrection of Zachary Wheeler Harry Walsh (Character) - 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Aquarians Official (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hauser's Memory Joseph Slaughter (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night Slaves Sheriff Henshaw (Character) - 1970
No Score Yet 17% Four Rode Out Mr. Brown (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet Trial Run Jason Harkness (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet Deadlock Lieutenant Sam Danforth (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet 33% How to Commit Marriage Phil Fletcher (Character) - 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet How to Steal the World Gen. Maximilian Harmon (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Counterpoint Victor Rice (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dayton's Devils Frank Dayton (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Companions in Nightmare Dr. Neesden (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hawaii Five-0 Brent (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Shadow Over Elveron Sheriff Verne Drover (Character) - 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gunfight in Abilene Grant Evers (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet 56% The Reluctant Astronaut Major Fred Gifford (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Code Name: Heraclitus Fryer (Character) - 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Beau Geste Lt. De Ruse (Character) - 1966
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Plainsman Col. George Armstrong Custer (Character) - 1966
No Score Yet 44% Harlow Richard Manley (Character) - 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dark Intruder Brett Kingsford (Character) - 1965
No Score Yet 0% See How They Run Elliott Green (Character) - 1965
No Score Yet 10% Night Train to Paris Alan Holiday (Character) - 1964
No Score Yet 64% The Sheepman Col. Stephen Bedford/Johnny Bledsoe (Character) - 1958
No Score Yet 83% Tammy and the Bachelor Peter Brent (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hot Summer Night William Joel Partain (Character) - 1957
No Score Yet 65% Ransom Charlie Telfer (Character) - 1956
94% 85% Forbidden Planet Commander John J. Adams (Character) - 1956
40% 45% The Opposite Sex Steve Hilliard (Character) - 1956
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Vagabond King Thibault d'Aussigny (Character) - 1956
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Battle of Gettysburg Narrator - 1955
No Score Yet No Score Yet Studio One Anthology Unknown (Character) - 1948

TV

Credit
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Dr. Rumack (archive footage) (Guest Voice) 2007
No Score Yet 83% Due South Unknown (Guest Star) 1994 1996 1998
No Score Yet 94% The Golden Girls Lucas Hollingsworth (Guest Star) 1992
No Score Yet 57% Saturday Night Live Host 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Who's the Boss? Unknown (Guest Star) 1987-1988
No Score Yet 64% Highway to Heaven Richard R. Benson (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet 89% Murder, She Wrote David Everett (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet 227 Unknown (Guest Star) 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Ray Bradbury Theater Fantoccini (Character) 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Finder of Lost Loves Unknown (Guest Star) 1985
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hotel Unknown (Guest Star) 1985
90% 93% Police Squad! Det. Frank Drebin (Character) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Littlest Hobo Unknown (Guest Star) 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Fantasy Island Unknown (Guest Star) 1978-1980
No Score Yet 80% Columbo Geronimo; A.J. Henderson (Guest Star) 1971 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cannon Erich Strasser (Guest Star) 1973-1975
No Score Yet 100% Kung Fu Unknown (Guest Star) 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Rookies Unknown (Guest Star) 1975
No Score Yet No Score Yet Kojak Michael Hagar (Guest Star) 1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Streets of San Francisco Inspector John T. Connor (Guest Star) 1973-1974
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barnaby Jones Unknown (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet 87% M*A*S*H Col. Buzz Brighton (Guest Star) 1973
No Score Yet No Score Yet Mod Squad Rusty Bryson (Guest Star) 1972
No Score Yet 100% Night Gallery Unknown (Character) 1971
No Score Yet No Score Yet Name of the Game Unknown (Guest Star) 1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Bold Ones: The Protectors Deputy Police Chief Sam Danforth (Character) 1969-1970
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Big Valley Unknown (Guest Star) 1969
No Score Yet No Score Yet Gunsmoke Jess Trevor (Guest Star) 1969
100% No Score Yet The Man From U.N.C.L.E. Unknown (Guest Star) 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet It Takes a Thief SIA Central Control (Guest Star) 1968
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cimarron Strip Unknown (Guest Star) 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet Bonanza Unknown (Guest Star) 1967
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Virginian Cleve Mason (Guest Star) 1964-1966
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Farmer's Daughter Unknown (Guest Star) 1966
No Score Yet 100% The Wild, Wild West Unknown (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet Dr. Kildare Harry Kleber (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Loner Unknown (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ben Casey Dr. Jeff English (Guest Star) 1965
No Score Yet No Score Yet Daniel Boone Unknown (Guest Star) 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet Wagon Train Jeremy Dow (Guest Star) 1960 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Fugitive Martin C. Rowland (Guest Star) 1963-1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet Alfred Hitchcock Hour Unknown (Character) 1964
No Score Yet No Score Yet Route 66 Doc Duncan (Guest Star) 1960 1962
No Score Yet 87% Alfred Hitchcock Presents Rudy Cox (Character) 1958 1961
No Score Yet No Score Yet Thriller Unknown (Character) 1960
No Score Yet No Score Yet Rawhide Unknown (Guest Star) 1959
No Score Yet No Score Yet Studio One Stan Janicek (Character) 1949-1951 1954
No Score Yet No Score Yet Tales of Tomorrow Unknown (Character) 1952-1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Suspense Unknown (Character) 1950-1951 1953
No Score Yet No Score Yet Lights Out Unknown (Character) 1950-1951